President Bola Tinubu has directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the activities of a purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) and every matter connected to its operations.
The directive was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
According to the Presidency, the anti-graft agency has been given 30 days to conclude its investigation and submit a comprehensive report.
The statement said the investigation followed the discovery that the so-called Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council was a fictitious body that was never established by the Federal Government.
“The directive follows the discovery of the fictitious PFIPC, which was never established by the Federal Government of Nigeria and has no basis in any law, presidential instrument, executive approval, or other lawful act of Government,” the statement read.
Alleged Appointee
The Presidency alleged that one Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew falsely presented himself as the Director-General of the council and claimed to be a presidential appointee.
According to the statement, the investigation will cover the alleged use of forged appointment letters and other government documents, claims of presidential appointment allegedly used to obtain official recognition and diplomatic support, including visa facilitation, as well as the opening of multiple bank accounts in the names of purported government agencies using allegedly forged documents.
The Presidency further stated that the investigation would extend beyond the principal suspect to include his collaborators and anyone who may have facilitated or participated in the alleged scheme.
“The investigation is to examine the provenance and use of false official documents; the processes through which official recognition or diplomatic support may have been sought or obtained; the opening and operation of any related bank accounts; the source and movement of any funds involved; and the role of any public officer, private individual, financial institution, intermediary or other person or entity that may have facilitated, enabled or participated in the alleged scheme,” the statement added.
President Tinubu also directed the ICPC to identify loopholes within government procedures that may have been exploited and recommend measures to prevent a recurrence.
He further instructed all ministries, departments and agencies of the Federal Government to cooperate fully with the commission by providing all information and assistance required for the investigation.
“The integrity of the Presidency and the institutions of the Federal Government must be protected against impersonation, forgery, abuse of official identity and the exploitation of weaknesses in the public service,” the statement said.
Tinubu, also ordered “that all persons found culpable be treated strictly in accordance with applicable law.”
Background story
The directive comes weeks after Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, during a press conference on June 25, alleged that the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, demanded a 48 per cent share of the council’s alleged ₦27.4 billion take-off grant, amounting to about ₦12.5 billion.
Adeyemi also accused Gbajabiamila of receiving ₦400 million through proxies in relation to appointments linked to the entity, abusing his office, intimidating individuals and media organisations, manipulating budget processes, attempting to misuse security agencies and participating in a cover-up.
However, Gbajabiamila, through his lawyer, Kemi Pinheiro, denied all the allegations, insisting that he had never met or had any dealings with Adeyemi. He also threatened a ₦10 billion defamation suit over claims linking him to bribery, murder and other criminal offences.
